Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
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Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE . NEW YORK Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32d President of the United THE HOME States was born in this home on January 30, The central part of the building, the oldest section, 1882. He was the only child of James and Sara dates to the early 1800s. When James Roosevelt Roosevelt. bought the house in 1867, it had a clapboard Franklin Roosevelt spent much of his life here. exterior. Here Franklin—the toddler, the little boy, the The main house has undergone many renovations young man—was shaped and grew to maturity. and additions with the passage of years. In 1916 it Here he brought his bride, Eleanor, in 1905, and assumed its present form. The central part, its here they raised their five children. From here he clapboards removed, was covered with stucco and began his political career that stretched from the fronted by a porch with a sweeping balustrade and New York State Senate to the White House. Roose a small colonnaded portico. On each end, the velt was a State senator, 1911-13, Assistant Sec Roosevelts added a two-story wing. retary of the Navy under Woodrow Wilson, 1913- 20, and unsuccessful vice-presidential candidate in 1920. Then, in 1921, he contracted infantile THE SITE paralysis. During his struggle to conquer the Franklin Roosevelt's home was designated a disease he spent much time here. He refused to National Historic Site on January 15, 1944. A gift become an invalid and reentered politics. He was from President Roosevelt, the site then consisted elected Governor of New York in 1928 and 1930 of 33 acres containing the home, outbuildings, and and President of the United States in 1932. As the grave site. The Secretary of the Interior ac Governor and President, he came here as often as cepted title to the area on November 21, 1945, he could for respite from the turmoil of public when Mrs. Roosevelt and her children waived their life. On April 15, 1945, 3 days after his death in life interests in the house and grounds. The site Warm Springs, Ga., President Roosevelt was was formally dedicated on April 12, 1946, the first buried in the family rose garden. Seventeen years anniversary of the President's death, and now later, on November 10, 1962, Mrs. Roosevelt was contains 188 acres. buried beside the President. At Hyde Park, Franklin Roosevelt accepts the 1920 vice-presidential nomination of his party. He particularly admired the beautiful view, as did GUIDE TO THE HOUSE everyone, from the terrace at the southern end First Floor of the house. One stepped out long French windows from the living-room-library and onto a President Roosevelt referred to this Office as his green lawn. Many times in summer, when I "Summer White House." Here on June 20, 1942, would be told that "the family was on the lawn." the President and the British Prime Minister, I approached through the library and saw Winston Churchill, signed the historic agreement through the open door an unforgettable picture: that resulted in the world's first atomic bomb. Mrs. Sara Roosevelt, in a soft, light summery Also from this room, on November 6, 1944, dress with ruffles, her hair charmingly curled, Roosevelt broadcast his last campaign speech sitting in a wicker chair and reading; Mrs. which led to his fourth term as President. Roosevelt, in a white dress and white tennis The family's interests and way of life are evident shoes with a velvet band around her head to immediately upon entering the Main Hall. A few keep the hair from blowing, sitting with her large pieces of furniture dominate this room and long-legged, graceful posture in a low chair and the walls are covered with pictures, most of them knitting, always knitting; Roosevelt looking off down the river at the view he admired, with a naval prints. Directly to the left of the entrance- book, often unopened, in one hand, and a way stands a massive oak wardrobe, and, immedi walking stick in the other; dogs playing near by, ately before the door, an 18th-century grandfather and children romping a little farther down the clock. James and Sara Roosevelt purchased these lawn. The scene was like a Currier and Ives print pieces in the Netherlands in 1881. of Life along the Hudson. Against the wall, just to the left of the clock, stands a large sideboard that James Roosevelt bought in — Frances Perkins Italy in 1869. In the southeast corner of the hall The Roosevelt I Knew Th. V,k,„, P,„, In, is a life-size bronze statue of Franklin D. Roosevelt at the age of 29, done by Prince Paul Troubetzkoy in 1911. Directly behind the statue is a wall case that holds many birds Franklin collected when he was 11 years old. The south hallway leads past the Snuggery, Mrs. Sara Delano Roosevelt's writing and sitting room, to the Living Room, which occupies the lower floor of the south wing. In this spacious room the family played, read, and entertained. Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site TO ALBANY POST R0AD> Hyde Park, NY. The two fireplace portraits are of Roosevelt an dinner chatter of growing children and the con cestors. Over the left fireplace is the Gilbert versation of distinguished guests. On election Stuart portrait of Issac Roosevelt, the President's nights, F.D.R. and his political associates filled great-great-grandfather, who was active in the this room with smoke as they tallied voting returns. Revolutionary War, a member of the State consti tutional convention, a State senator, and a mem Second Floor ber of the State convention which ratified the Young Franklin used the Boyhood Bedroom, as Constitution of the United States. Over the right did his sons. The many notables who visited the fireplace is a portrait of Franklin's great-grand Roosevelts used the Blue and Morning Rooms and father, James Roosevelt, who was a New York the rooms on the river side of the hall. Roosevelt City merchant, a State assemblyman, an alderman, was born in the Blue Room, the master bedroom and the first of the family to settle in Dutchess of the house prior to the 1916 expansion. County in 1819. At the end of the hallway, in the stone wing over Ellen Emmett Rand painted the large portrait of the living room, is F.D.R.'s Bedroom, which con Franklin D. Roosevelt at Hyde Park in 1932. The tains his favorite pictures, naval prints, and family two highback leather chairs at the left end of the photographs. The leash and blanket of the Presi room were Franklin Roosevelt's when he was dent's dog, Fala, are on the Scottie's own chair. Governor of New York. He received a chair for Scattered about the room are the books and each of his 2-year terms. He always sat in the one magazines that were here at the time of Roose on the left. velt's last visit in March 1945. The Dresden Room takes its name from the deli cately wrought Dresden chandelier and mantel F.D.R. LIBRARY set that James Roosevelt purchased in Germany Next to the site is the Franklin D. Roosevelt Li in 1866. The rug is an Aubusson. Sara Roosevelt brary, administered by the National Archives and chose the floral drapes and matching upholstery Record Service. The museum section contains the in 1939, shortly before the King and Queen of President's study, his ship models, gifts from England visited here. foreign rulers, and special exhibits about the lives Quiet now, the Dining Room often buzzed with the and careers of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. *GPO 1974 586454,7 REPRINT 1974 FOR YOUR SAFETY "This is the house in which my husband was born Home and brought up. He always felt that this was Efforts have been made to provide for your safety, his home, and he loved the house and the view, but there are still hazards, including poison ivy of the woods, special trees. ..." and steep slopes, that require your alertness and — Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt vigilance. Please take care and have a safe and Franklin enjoyable visit. D. ADMINISTRATION Roosevelt The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National His NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE . NEW YORK toric Site is administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. A super intendent, whose address is Hyde Park, Dutchess County, NY 12538, is in immediate charge. As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural resources. This includes fostering the wisest use of our land and water resources, pro tecting our fish and wildlife, preserving the en vironmental and cultural values of our national parks and historical places, and providing for the enjoyment of life through outdoor recreation. The Department assesses our energy and mineral resources and works to assure that their develop ment is in the best interests of all our people. The Department also has a major responsibility for American Indian reservation communities and for people who live in Island Territories under U.S. administration. National Park Service U.S. DEPARTMENT of the INTERIOR .